OCD Causes: Zero in on Serotonin

Scientists and doctors still have no idea what exactly causes obsessive compulsive disorder. However recent research and studies have brought better understanding about this psychiatric anxiety disorder and its causes.

Experts believe that OCD is directly related to the levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a normal chemical that plays a major role in the regulation of a person's mood, aggression, anger, sleep, appetite and sexuality. Low levels of serotonin in the brain is associated with many anxiety disorders and clinical depression. When the flow of serotonin is blocked, the alarm system of the brain overreacts and misinterprets information. Your brain mistakenly reads normal situations as danger messages. Instead of filtering out these unnecessary thoughts, you tend to dwell on them and you experience fear, doubt and anxiety.

Recent studies show that OCD might be hereditary. Many OCD patients have one or more family members who also suffer from the same condition or other anxiety disorders that are influenced by the serotonin levels in the brain. Experts believe that the tendency to develop serotonin imbalance can be passed on from generation to generation through a person's genes. Thus they strongly believe that OCD runs in families and so do many serotonin-related anxiety disorders. However having a family member with OCD or other psychiatric anxiety disorders or clinical depression doesn't mean that you will develop the condition. It only means that there is an increased chance that you might.

OCD affects people regardless of age, race or sex. The incidence in males and females is roughly equal. Even children under the age of five can develop OCD. Although the majority of patients belong to the 20 to 30 age group, many claim that their symptoms started during childhood. The problem is that in children, it is even harder to detect and recognize this condition so it is not usually treated.

OCD used to be considered a very rare condition until studies showed that about seven million people have this disorder in the United States alone. One in every 100 children have OCD. Doctors still don't know its exact cause and they still don't have a cure. However its symptoms can be alleviated with proper treatment.